Check the license first
Get the number
Ask for the contractor's CSLB license number in writing, on the quote.
Look it up
Search the number at cslb.ca.gov and confirm the business name matches the quote.
Read the status
Confirm the license is active and note the classification and any listed bond or workers' compensation information.
Save a screenshot
Keep it with your quotes and permit paperwork.
Before you sign
- License verified at cslb.ca.gov
- Camera inspection done and footage provided to me
- Defects shown to me on the footage, with distances
- Written scope names the method, length and materials
- Permit handling is stated, including any work near the street
- Restoration of each surface is described specifically
- Final camera pass is included
- Written warranty terms are attached
- I know who will be on site and whether subcontractors are used
- Payment schedule is written and tied to stages of work
Good signs vs. warning signs
Good signs
- Shows you the footage without being asked
- Explains why other methods do or do not fit
- Mentions permits and inspection unprompted
- Puts everything in writing
Warning signs
- Recommends replacement without a camera inspection
- Will not leave the footage with you
- Asks for a large payment before any work
- Discourages permits
Why this matters for a sewer job
Lateral work is mostly underground and mostly one-time. Once the trench is backfilled or the liner is cured, you cannot easily see what was done. That is why the paperwork, footage and permit sign-off carry so much weight: they are the only record of the job.
If the house is ever sold, a buyer's inspector may ask for those records. A permitted job with before-and-after footage answers the question in minutes.
Questions to ask on the phone
- Is the camera inspection a separate charge or credited toward repair?
- Will I get the footage regardless of who does the repair?
- Who pulls the permit, and under which license?
Common questions
What does an inactive license mean?
The contractor may not legally contract for the work. Ask about it and consider someone else.
Is a handyman allowed to replace a sewer line?
Sewer work is generally licensed plumbing work. Check with CSLB about what requires a license.
Should I pay a deposit?
Read the CSLB guidance on down payments at cslb.ca.gov before agreeing to one.
General information for Whittier, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.